The House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food has vowed to pursue the answers to “the web of controversies” it has unraveled during congressional inquiries on overpriced onions.
At the same time, Reps. Wilfrido Mark Enverga of Quezon and Stella Quimbo of Marikina City urged law enforcement and regulatory agencies to take a close look at the findings of the panel in order to build an airtight case against those who have blatantly burdened consumers with the absurdly high prices of onions in late 2022.
After nine marathon hearings of the committee on the onion price surge, Quimbo was able to piece together an “Onion matrix” detailing the depth of “Sibuyas Queen” Leah Cruz’s influence and control over onion importation, cold storage facilities, and trucking companies.
“I think this time there is a solid evidence against those involved in the controversy,” Enverga told reporters in a joint press conference with Quimbo.
According to Enverga, Cruz was able to have her way in the onion industry even before current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
It is for this reason that Enverga thinks officials like former DA Secretary William Dar, Mr. Marcos’ predecessor in the department, has some explaining to do.
“Based on the diagram presented by Cong. Stella Quimbo, former Sec. DAR has a lot of explaining to do,” Enverga added.
Quimbo said that Cruz’s extended group of companies accounted for a whopping 68..74 percent of the total imported volume for yellow granex or white onions in 2022. This amounted to 5,445.66 metric tons.
For red onions, the importers controlled by Cruz hauled an even bigger 7,648 MT, or 41 percent of the total imported volume last year.
The BPI is an attached agency of the DA and is in charge with monitoring the state of onion supply in the country. The hearings have shown that the BPI was remiss in preventing the onion price surge due to failed interventions.
At any rate, Enverga and Quimbo credited President Marcos for giving attention to the cartel problem through House Speaker Martin Romualdez. It can be recalled that Speaker Romualdez ordered the House inquiry last February in order to give the public answers about the shocking onion price surge.